HRDC cautions DPP against turning parliament into its political battlefield: “Serve Malawians, not your political interests”

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has warned the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) against sacrificing the future of hardworking and forward-looking Malawians on its altar of political egos and selfishness.

The coalition’s national coordinator, Kelvin Chirwa, observed that the former governing party is not interested to serve Malawians, but rather serve themselves as evidenced by their endless squabbles of leadership in parliament.

Chirwa was reacting to the sad incidents that ensued at the National Assembly on Friday morning.

President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera was forced to skip to mention the name of the Leader of Opposition, as he could not make out who is now the anointed Leader of Opposition among Kondwani Nankhumwa, George Chaponda and Mary Navicha.

Chirwa warned the DPP lawmakers against taking Malawians for granted by turning the National Assembly into its battlefield of political outwitting and witch-hunting at the expense of the needs and interests of poor Malawians.

“What is happening in parliament is laughable. Parliament should not be engaged in the politicking with DPP,” he reacted.

Meanwhile, commentators have predicted that Malawians should brace for another legal drama as DPP itches to replace Nankhumwa with Chaponda or Navicha.

According to Nankhumwa’s lawyer, Wapona Kita, the injunction which was obtained by 23 DPP MPs in 2022, challenging an earlier appointment of Chaponda on the basis that they were not accorded the right to vote, still stands and any action by the party against it, is tantamount to contempt of court.

“There is a letter that I wrote to parliament on instruction from my client reminding them that there is an order of injunction which stops DPP from replacing Honourable Nankhumwa with Honourable Chaponda as leader of opposition in parliament,” said Kita.

“So as far as we are concerned that order has not been lifted it is still valid until the court gives another order then Honourable Nankhumwa ought to be recognized as leader of opposition,” he added.

Two weeks ago, DPP expelled the Mulanje Central Parliamentarian and several other officials from the party over issues bordering on indiscipline.

The party further requested the office of the speaker of parliament to replace Nankhumwa with Dr Chaponda as leader of opposition.

DPP officials were not readily available for a comment on the new developments, but some senior officials close to the party leadership told Zodiak Broadcasting Station that the DPP will not relent in the attempt to remove Nankhumwa, arguing he is no longer a member of the main opposition party.